Yimei Pavilion

Yimei Pavilion

Yimei Pavilion is a cultural heritage site protected by the Suzhou Municipal Government.

Yimei Pavilion was first built in the Yimou year (1055) of the Zhihe era during the Northern Song Dynasty, and was later reconstructed in the Yimou year (1835) of the 15th year of the Daoguang reign—780 years later. It is a memorial pavilion built to commemorate the dredging of the Zhihe Pond (now the Lou River). The Lou River flows eastward from Luzhimen in Suzhou, passing through Weiting, Kunshan, and Taicang, and joins the Liu River before emptying into the Yangtze River. Since ancient times, the Lou River has been an important waterway. The people of the old Weiting town lived along the river, making the Lou River practically their "mother river." This highlights the significance of the dredging project undertaken on the Lou River at that time.

Yimei Pavilion faces south and is built right against a wall to its north, forming a unique semi-open pavilion style. The pavilion stands over three meters tall and features an elegant and dignified design. The ancient structure consists of three parts: the base, the pillars, and the roof, constructed using a variety of materials such as brick, wood, stone, and tile. The stone pillars are made of granite, which is both beautiful and sturdy, and are adorned with exquisitely crafted hanging latticework between them.